MURINE OPOSSUM 



being still in the embryonic stage. Opossums are very prolific 

 and have from five to fourteen young at a birth. While very 

 small they remain attached to the teats in the abdominal 

 pouch and are carried about by the mother. 



Opossums are very hardy and tenacious of life. It is due 

 to this fact, perhaps, that the animal has been able to hold its 

 own so successfully, because it is rather slow and stupid in 

 comparison with most other mammals. 



Genus Marmosa 



Dentition: Incisors, f ; Canines, {; Premolars, | ; Molars, f =50. 



Murine Opossum; Mouse Opossum 



This genus is not found native in the territory included in 

 the scope of this volume, but it is not infrequently brought 

 into seaports on steamers, especially by fruit steamers where 

 it is brought aboard hidden in bunches of bananas. 



The Murine Opossums are all much smaller than members 

 of the genus Didelphis, and most of them are truly of mouse 

 size, hence the name. The species most apt to be encountered 

 as strays come from Central America and are soft-furred, 

 yellow or brownish in color, with long, naked prehensile tails, 

 large eyes, and broad hands and feet. The females have no 

 external abdominal pouches as in the genus Didelphis. If 

 the specimen hailed from Panama it is apt to be Marmosa 

 isthmica, while Marmosa zeledoni is a species in Costa Rica. 

 Females of isthmica average, total length, 12.5 inches; tail, 7 

 inches; males, total length, 15 inches; tail, 8 inches. Mar- 

 mosa zeledoni is a trifle smaller than isthmica. 



